Alert: Does Post Correspondent Have a Conflict?

FAIR’s latest alert documents the conflict of interest concerning the new Jerusalem correspondent at the Washington Post. If you’re writing to the paper and want to share your letter, please do so in the comments section below.

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Activism Director and and Co-producer of CounterSpinPeter Hart is the activism director at FAIR. He writes for FAIR's magazine Extra! and is also a co-host and producer of FAIR's syndicated radio show CounterSpin. He is the author of The Oh Really? Factor: Unspinning Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly (Seven Stories Press, 2003). Hart has been interviewed by a number of media outlets, including NBC Nightly News, Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor, the Los Angeles Times, Newsday and the Associated Press. He has also appeared on Showtime and in the movie Outfoxed. Follow Peter on Twitter at @peterfhart.

to: readers@washpost.com
I agree with FAIR’s alert today: Ruth Eglash should not be covering Israel or, in fact, the Middle East. Shame on WaPo for creating such a deep and obvious conflict of interest.

Dear Mr. Feaver, I am writing in regards to the Washington Post’s hiring of Ruth Eglash as a Jerusalem correspondent. I was struck by an article on the Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting website that pointed out her husband is a founder of Upstart Activist and is the president of its affiliated PR consulting firm, Upstart Ideas. Both of these organizations are involved in pro-Israeli advocacy work. In addition she herself is listed as speaker on the Jewish National Fund’s website. This would seem to contravene the conflict of interest protocols of the Washington Post. Considering that the JNF is an organization which is involved in among other things the Prawer plan to cleanse an area of the Negev desert of thousands of Bedouin residents. It seems clear Ms. Eglash would be unable to be an objective and nonpartisan voice in Jerusalem. I would suggest reassigning her to an area of reporting which won’t be undermined by her ties to pro-Israel activism.

Douglas Feaver, it has been brought to my attention by my fellow activists at FAIR that the recent decision to assign reporter Mrs. Ruth Eglash as the Washington Post correspondent in Jerusalem is in clear violation of openly stated policies by your newspaper:

Here is a particularly important part of the text provided in the link immediately above; it should be familiar. to you:

“Eglash’s entanglements would appear to violate the paper’s Conflict of Interest rules, which read in part:

This newspaper is pledged to avoid conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest, wherever and whenever possible. We have adopted stringent policies on these issues, conscious that they may be more restrictive than is customary in the world of private business….

Many outside activities and jobs are incompatible with the proper performance of work on an independent newspaper. Connections with government are among the most objectionable….

Relatives cannot fairly be made subject to Post rules, but it should be recognized that their employment or their involvement in causes can at least appear to compromise our integrity. The business and professional ties of traditional family members or other members of your household must be disclosed to department heads.

When EI asked Post foreign editor Douglas Jehl whether Eglash had disclosed her husband’s activities, and whether his work as a pro-Israel advocate could be seen as compromising the paper’s integrity, he wrote back with a non-response, insisting that the Post “is committed to its stringent policy on avoiding conflict of interest,” while failing to address the Eglash case at all. Jehl’s reply was copied to Jerusalem bureau chief William Booth and deputy foreign editor Griff Witte.”

Please assign your reporter Mrs. Ruth based on principles that our consistent with the journalistic ethics promised by your newspaper to their readership.

The Washington Post is in a strange business if it thinks the meaning of words can simply be disregarded. Your own conflict of interest policy is quite clear. Ruth Eglash has an obvious conflict.

• “This newspaper is pledged to avoid conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest, wherever and whenever possible….”

• “Connections with government are among the most objectionable….”

• “Relatives… employment or their involvement in causes can at least appear to compromise our integrity.”

So I am to believe the unbelievable: that it was impossible for you not to hire her, that her connections to the Israeli government do not exist, and that her husband’s work with that government does not appear to compromise your integrity.

But since I am unable and unwilling to believe the unbelievable, I must assume that the clear language of your own rules governing your own conflicts of interest mean nothing to the Washington Post.

My note to WaPo:
Mr. Feaver,
I recently was made aware that Ruth Eglash is covering Israel where her husband does advocacy work for Zionist causes. This is a blatant conflict of interest, in violation of the Post’s own policies. Please reconsider this assignment and publicly address the matter.
Sincerely,

WaPo reply October 9th:
Good morning,

Thanks for taking the time to write. Please see below for the statement regarding this issue from our Foreign editor, Doug Jehl:

Ruth Eglash is a professional journalist with experience at other publications, including the Jerusalem Post, and we have seen no reason for concern about her work. The Post is committed to its stringent policy on avoiding conflict of interest, which covers our entire news organization, including foreign bureaus and contract employees who work for the foreign staff. We have thoroughly examined the specific questions raised by readers about potential conflicts involving the business activities of Ms. Eglash’s husband. After a detailed review of those activities, we have not found facts that constitute an actual conflict.

The Washington Post’s email reply to the email I sent for the Action Alert.

Good morning,

Thanks for taking the time to write. Please see below for the statement regarding this issue from our Foreign editor, Doug Jehl:

Ruth Eglash is a professional journalist with experience at other publications, including the Jerusalem Post, and we have seen no reason for concern about her work. The Post is committed to its stringent policy on avoiding conflict of interest, which covers our entire news organization, including foreign bureaus and contract employees who work for the foreign staff. We have thoroughly examined the specific questions raised by readers about potential conflicts involving the business activities of Ms. Eglash’s husband. After a detailed review of those activities, we have not found facts that constitute an actual conflict.